Reports from the Peoples Gazette reveal that an emergency application filed by President Bola Tinubu, seeking to prevent Chicago State University (CSU) from disclosing his academic records to Atiku Abubakar, has been denied. This ruling, delivered by Judge Nancy Maldonado of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago, could reshape Nigeria's political narrative.
According to the court's decision, CSU is now required to hand over the records to Mr. Abubakar by 12:00 p.m. Monday. The university officials must also authenticate the documents by 5:00 p.m. on the same day. This development is seen as a significant setback for President Tinubu and a considerable victory for Mr Abubakar, who has been trying to obtain these records to confirm allegations that President Tinubu presented a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission during his presidential application in June 2022.
The Nigerian Constitution, amended in 2010, explicitly states that no individual can be legitimately elected as the president if they have presented a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission. While the president has not denied the charges of the certificate being forged, he has consistently maintained that he attended and graduated from the university.
This ruling has intensified nationwide speculation on what President Tinubu might be concealing from Nigerians. With these records' imminent release and cross-examination, Nigerians await clarity on this matter, which holds significant implications for the nation's political future.
